News: 35th TTSB celebrates DBC's promotion to Colonel

Lt. Col. Daron L. Long, native of Greenwood, S.C., and deputy brigade commander, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical), is receives the rank of colonel by his children Joseph and Jarod while his wife Gara watches during a ceremony at the Gordon Club, Fort Gordon, Georgia, May 30. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Ashley M. Armstrong, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical) Public Affairs/Released)

FORT GORDON, Ga.—Family, friends and colleges gathered at the Gordon Club May 30, in honor and celebration of the promotion of 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical) Deputy Brigade Commander Lt. Col. Daron L. Long to the rank of Colonel.

Maj. Gen. Clarence K.K. Chinn, Task Force Bragg IV commanding general at 18th Airborne Corps, introduced Long and spoke on the importance of leadership and the heritage of the Colonel rank. Long, a native of Greenwood, South Carolina, was joined by his wife Gara and children Joseph, Jarod, Bryce and Jenna, along with other members of his family.

Daron L. Long currently serves as the Deputy Brigade Commander, 35th Signal Brigade (Theater Tactical). He is from Greenwood, South Carolina and graduated from Lander College in December 1991, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant.

“I’m really humbled by the opportunity that the Army has given me to continue to serve and I haven’t gotten this far by myself,” said Long during his ceremony.

After the Signal Officer Basic Course (1992),Long began his career in Stuttgart, Germany, with the 587th Signal Company serving as a Platoon Leader and Executive/Operations Officer (1993 – 1995) and later moved to serve as the Administration and Logistics Officer (S1/S4) for the 52d Signal Battalion (1995 – 1996). After completion of the Signal Officer Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served in the Division Signal Office / G6 (1996 – 1997, 2001 – 2002) and served as Signal Officer for 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (1996 – 1998), Signal Officer for 2nd Brigade and 502nd Infantry Regiment (1998 – 1999), and Commander of B Company, 501st Signal Battalion (1999 – 2001). Following his time with the Screaming Eagles, Long was reassigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he served in the 442nd Signal Battalion as the Branch Chief responsible for S6 training and Battalion Executive Officer (2002 – 2004).

Upon completion of Command and General Staff College, he was assigned to the 54th Signal Battalion in Iraq and Kuwait as the Battalion Operation Officer (2005 – 2006) and later reassigned to Fort Gordon, GA where he served as the Operations and Executive Officer for the 56th Signal Battalion (2006 – 2008). He next served as a Joint Staff Action Officer on The Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. (2008 – 2010). Just prior to his current assignment, Long served as the Commander of 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (2010 – 2012).

Long earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Lander College in 1991 and a Master of Arts degree in Telecommunications Management from Webster University in 2005. His professional military education includes the Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Battalion and Brigade Signal Officer Course, Combined Arms Services Staff School, and Command and General Staff College.

Long is married to his bride of 21 years, Gara, and they have four children. He is scheduled to conduct a permanent change of station in July to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he will serve as the Third Army/U.S. Army Central Command’s G6.